Music and Wellness

It is the mission of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s Music and Wellness Program to serve as a resource to patients, families and healthcare staff in Western Pennsylvania in order to empower individuals to utilize music for the promotion of wellness and stress reduction.

History of the PSO Program:

The Music and Wellness Program originated in 1999 when Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra violist Penny Brill was diagnosed with breast cancer.  In the year following her diagnosis, she began researching ways of using music to reduce her anxiety, lessen the side effects of chemotherapy and reduce the amount of pain medication needed both during surgery and the recovery following surgery.  Since that time, Penny has worked tirelessly to make Music and Wellness an essential part of the work of the PSO. 

Paul Silver, PSO violist, joined Penny to give an initial Music and Wellness presentation in April 2000 at the Cancer Caring Center.  They worked with cancer support group leaders at Magee Women's Hospital and the Music Therapy Department at Duquesne University to develop a series of relaxation and visualization sessions geared toward helping ovarian cancer patients.  This soon evolved into additional musicians, guided by music therapists, playing for patients and their families in their rooms and the chemotherapy and oncology radiation waiting areas.  Penny Anderson and music therapist Debbie Benkovitz also began working regularly with transplant patients at Montefiore Hospital.  Dr. Bruce Rabin, at the time Medical Director of the Healthy Lifestyles Program for the UPMC Health System, was actively seeking ways to reduce the stress and anxiety of hospital patients and ways of maintaining wellness and optimum health in the general population.  This prompted the collaboration between UPMC and the Pittsburgh Symphony in creating a Music and Wellness Program, and Debbie Benkovitz was hired to be the first Music Therapist at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.

A string quartet of PSO musicians plays two memorial services each year at Children's Hospital.  These memorial services, for the families and caregivers of children who have passed away during the previous year, are very powerful healing tools and moving experiences for everyone involved.  Along with other hospital support staff, CHP Music Therapist Debbie Benkovitz and Penny Brill have created a program which uses music to assist and support families and staff during the most difficult of times. 

A year ago, the PSO embarked on a strategic partnership with Children's Hospital.  PSO musicians work with music therapists from the Child Life Department and staff from the Family Service and Resources Department to address the needs of patients and their families. The PSO musicians play in the atrium and cafeteria of Children's Hospital for patients, families and staff. 

On October 19, 2010, the PSO awarded Debbie Benkovitz the Paul Ross Award for Excellence in Education and Community Engagement.

Goals of the Music and Wellness Program: The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) seeks to partner with music therapy experts and professionals in the wellness field in order to become a music and wellness resource for patients, families, and healthcare staff in Pennsylvania.  In the future, with the resources of health care facilities and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the PSO’s Music and Wellness Program could become a model and resource for orchestras, music therapy programs, and healthcare facilities across the country.